In a shocking announcement Tuesday morning, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said it will not be prosecuting Jussie Smollett, who was previously accused of faking an anti-black, anti-gay hate crime in Chicago in order to drum up publicity for his role on the TV drama “Empire.”
As Julie Grant explains in this podcast, the judge granted a nolle pros, which essentially means that the case has been dropped and that he will no longer be prosecuted for the alleged crime. However, the charges can be filed at another time. (It is not like an acquittal.) And, the federal investigation is still ongoing.
Julie Grant is a former prosecutor and an anchor at The New Court TV (www.CourtTV.com) – the new Court TV will be devoted to live, gavel-to-gavel coverage, in-depth legal reporting and expert analysis of the nation’s most important and compelling trials.
A lot of questions still remain with this case. In Julie’s words, “this case has really been a head-scratcher from the start.” However, Grant says this is a good reminder that everyone is innocent until proven guilty!
Listen for more detail in the podcast above!
(Actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Court Building after his hearing in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. March 14, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil)
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(Amy Iler & JJ Gordon are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Follow Amy on Twitter @AmyKFGO. Follow JJ on Twitter @JJGodon701.)
